The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1911. THE CORONATION MEMORIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10781, 1 June 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1911. THE CORONATION MEMORIAL.

The Hon. G. Jones forwarded the following letter to the Acting Premier with regard to the recreation ground : When your reply to the Hon. Thomas Duncan, in reference to the Coronation memorial for Oaniaru was read at a public meeting to consider the subject it created s.urprise and disappointment. The public park scheme seemed to those who are interesting themselves in the matter—and we are all doing that—so utterly devoid of objection that it was bound to meet with acceptance if the Government has a genuine desire to help every community to exhibit its loyalty in any way that would he conducive to its own benefit and would memorise the great event, so long as there was no attempt to take advantage of the State's contribution to achieve objects which could not be considered appropriate to the occasion. Your reason for disapproving our suggestion that a playground ( should be provided for our youths is that if you agree to help proposals outside those few that the Government has arbitrarily decided ' upon, the call upon the Government would he greater than was anticipated. This leads to the conclusion that the Government do not wish that the memorials should be universal, and that, in those cases where none of the objects which are mentioned in your telegram are. desired, or required by the communities, those who are expected to evince their loyalty must either select from them and, perhaps, expend their own and the Government's contribution not so wisely as they could wish, or do nothing at all. Thus they would be denied the privilege of signalising the event in the way that would express their sentiiuent all the more effectively because it would be of utility as well as fitting as an everlasting and genuine proof of their own patriotism. Is this what is intended by the Government, and does it view gates or trees or swimming baths, or the other schemes mentioned, as more appropriate than the adaptation of a site so as to make it fit for a sports ground for the whole of North Otago and on which youth from all portions of the Dominion could meet in a generous rivalry promotive of a national sentiment as well as of physical fitness and a capacity to perform well the duties of citizens? We ask no more than that the Government will do in our case what it has already substantially sanctioned in the case of Woolston. The only difference between the two schemes is that in one case a suitable site is purchased and in the other control would be given gratuitously of a municipal site in order that it might be adapted. The reserve, which is now being used to graze a few cows, is the only space available, is on the hillside, and would constitute as good a site for a sports ground as Newtown Park, as it would be surrounded by a. natural amphitheatre. The cost of adaptation would be, approximately, £IOOO, a large proportion of which would be contributed, directly and indirectly, by our citizens. A pavilion, which would be suitably inscribed with a loyal legend, is also part of the scheme. There is no intention to impose upon the State's generosity, for we shall spend at least three times the amount of the Government grant, whilst we would achieve an object which should be encouraged by all who desire to see a spirit engendered which would tend to keep the ranks of our defenders well filled with able-bodied men. You have approved of a public park as one of the purposes. What practical difference is there between that which you approve and that which we ask you to approve? I fear that if you persist in forcing us to adopt a method of showing our loyalty with which we are not in sympathy the exhibition of it in connection w-ith the Coronation will but inadequately express our sentiment. You will please remember that a part of our scheme is to be a pavilion, the erection of which meets with Government approval, and whilst it is our intention to construct an. up-to-date building and to lay the foundation stone oh Coronation Day, it may be necessary to complete only a portion of it at present. But if the Government insisted that the whole of the subsidy is to he expended on the pavilion, the cost would he £SOO, and the amount that might be saved by ereeting the building in two instalments would go far to pay for the levelling of'the ground so that the pavilion would be made of some practical use. It would be futile to depend upon the Government suggestion that a contribution should be asked from Parliament independently of that which would be made to celebrate the Coronation. Nor is there any necessity that there should be an additional draft upon the Government for the purpose. The £250 would be ample if judiciously administered as we suggest. May I not vet hope that you will send such a favorable answer as might be expected from a Government which is celebrated for its sympathy with all movements to promote the populaT welfare and happiness ?